14 replies to this topic

[johndregg]

Can anyone help me find where the VIN is stamped into the chassis on a mini from 1993? I don't mean the little stamped plate inside the engine bay. Aren't all cars stamped into the shell aswell?

[Guess-Works.com]

In '93 it will be stamped in the gutter rail on the scuttle ( where the rear of the bonnet sits )

[josh.evans]

In '93 it will be stamped in the gutter rail on the scuttle ( where the rear of the bonnet sits )

as above in the centre of the car

[pikey7]

Unless the scuttle has been replaced of course...

[Furio]

I'm sorry to hijack this thread, but is the VIN number stamped anywhere else on the mini? I'm asking beacuse I had the scuttle panel replaced last year and the bodyshop forgot to restamp the new one

[samsfern]

im not meaning to hijack this thread, lol, but where should it be on an 88?

[pikey7]

im not meaning to hijack this thread, lol, but where should it be on an 88?

in the scuttle. They started doing it sometime around the Mk3 (70's) I believe (but don't quote me on that)

But as we all know, scuttles are prone to rust, so it's not necessarily on all cars that have had them replaced.

[Furio]

pikey7 for those of us that have had our scuttles replaced is it somewhere else? and if not how easy would it be for a bodyshop to stamp the VIN back on?

[Midas Mk1]

pikey7 for those of us that have had our scuttles replaced is it somewhere else? and if not how easy would it be for a bodyshop to stamp the VIN back on?

Its illegal to have the number stamped back into a new scuttle, or to weld the old tag into it, so the only option is to leave it off, but keep the original stamp from the scuttle for proof.

Edited by Midas Mk1, 06 October 2010 - 09:59 AM.

[pikey7]

I have heard that it is somewhere else too, but no idea where. Certainly there are age giveaways on later cars such as some of the paper labels on items saying date of manufacture.

It's easy to stamp the vin back in... not so easy to get it right. to be honest, if it's had a scuttle, I'd leave it rather than stamp a VIN in badly so it looks dodgy. People that buy Minis generally know that a missing VIN isn't necessarily a bad thing... in fact can be a good thing! (at least you are pretty sure the scuttle is solid!), but of course do have to be a little more vigilant on checking other age related items and paperwork.

[ado15]

This is interesting. I would have always said it was quite late on before Rover started stamping the VIN on the body. Just looked at an original, unmolested, 30 we have here and there is certainly nothing stamped in the scuttle rain channel.

As an aside, a VIN is not required to be displayed on a vehicle registered prior to 1st August 1980 for a UK MOT.

Edited by ado15, 06 October 2010 - 02:33 PM.

[samsfern]

i havent got one in my scuttle, and i know that the scuttle is still original.

[xBR4DLEY]

i havent got one in my scuttle, and i know that the scuttle is still original.

Same , my 1983 City E has a plate on the passenger side inner wing with VIN and paint codes on it. Pretty sure some/most other models will have it in the engine bay somewhere.

[Irishmayfair]

Does anybody know if its possible to get a new plate made up as my car has neither a stamp in the scuttle or a plate on the inner passenger wing?

[samsfern]

i think minisport do them.